Thanks to RayRay and Sam for the Kofis. Enjoy the bonus chapters.

Lin Yu had nothing to do, so he started making clothes. The child’s clothes were not urgent, so he first made Wei Qingshan’s new clothes. In the morning, he sat in the shady courtyard and chatted with Madam Wu, not feeling bored at all.

This day, when Madam Wu was leaving, she called Shi Xiaoliu over. The two of them did not know what they said, but Shi Xiaoliu grabbed Madam Wu’s clothes and cried.

Lin Yu quickly walked over. “What’s going on here?”

Shi Xiaoliu cried with sobs. “My mom doesn’t want me anymore!”

Zhao Yueniang also hurried over to comfort him. “Xiaoliu, don’t cry. How could Madam Wu not want you?”

Madam Wu was also brought to tears by Shi Xiaoliu’s crying. “When did I ever say I didn’t want you? I just told you not to give the money to me. In the future, you will need money at hand. How can you spend it all on your younger brother and sister?”

“I’m willing to spend it on them, I am willing.”

“Your mom now has a stable job. What I earn in a day is enough to raise your brother and sister. You should save your own money, be good.”

“Mom, you don’t want my money anymore, so that means you don’t want me anymore. If I don’t work in the future, where do you want me to go?” Shi Xiaoliu sobbed and choked up.

Madam Wu touched his head. “Who said your mom doesn’t want you? When you come back, you will still live at home, still call me mom as usual.”

Only then did Lin Yu know why Shi Xiaoliu was crying — so it was because of this. Madam Wu had good intentions, but who knew Shi Xiaoliu misunderstood.

No matter what, Madam Wu refused to let Shi Xiaoliu hand over money to the family again. The copper coins she earned now were enough to raise two children.

She felt that Shi Xiaoliu had followed her for one or two years but had never had a single good day, and instead helped her take care of two children. This made her feel very guilty.

Madam Wu comforted him again, saying she would always be Shi Xiaoliu’s mom. Only then did Shi Xiaoliu stop crying.

Lin Yu pulled Shi Xiaoliu to wash his face. “Alright, stop crying. Your mom didn’t say she doesn’t want you.”

Shi Xiaoliu sniffled. “My mom treats me the best.”

Although the family was poor, Madam Wu treated him no differently from his two younger siblings. She gave him a place to live so he didn’t have to eat and sleep in the open, didn’t have to be bullied by those bigger beggars. Even if life wasn’t good, it was still much better than being a little beggar.

When Madam Wu saw that Shi Xiaoliu was fine, she left. There were still two children at home waiting for her to return. As for Shi Xiaoliu, she was full of guilt and heartache — this child had followed her but never had a good day.

Zhao Yueniang also comforted him, taking the fabric from the table and showing it to him. “My brother was originally planning to tell you after I finished making it. Look, this piece of fabric is what my brother bought for you. Isn’t it nice?”

Shi Xiaoliu had just cried, so when he heard Zhao Yueniang say this, he was a little dazed. “M-my, mine?”

“Of course it is. Look, yours is sky blue.”

Shi Xiaoliu showed a silly smile on his face. “Thank you, Lin Ama!”

“Alright, you’re already grown. Come over and drink some water.”

Shi Xiaoliu was no longer sad. His mom said she did not abandon him, Lin Ama even bought fabric to make him clothes. He really was too lucky — why was it that everyone he met was a good person?

In the afternoon, when they were free, Lin Yu worked on sewing in the courtyard, Zhao Yueniang was cutting clothes, and Shi Xiaoliu, not knowing how to cut clothes, sat to the side, staring eagerly.

The last new piece of clothing he had was the one made by his father and mother, and he did not even know how many years ago that was. The color Lin Ama picked for him was really nice. His clothes were all grayish and patched. When the new clothes were finished, he probably wouldn’t even want to wear them.

Now that the family business had stabilized, the butcher shop slaughtered a pig every two days, and the bun shop business was also good. The shop only stayed open until noon before closing. Earning five or six taels of silver a day was enough to make Lin Yu satisfied. Wei Qingshan still had to go out to collect and slaughter pigs, and he also needed to rest.

Sometimes Lin Yu would have Wei Qingshan take him to walk outside town. He just wanted to see if the rice in the fields had ripened. Seeing the rice spikes turning yellow, Lin Yu felt happy and discussed with Wei Qingshan about when to go home to harvest the crops.

The grain price in town had already dropped a lot. Once the new rice was harvested, the grain price would stabilize. Everyone’s days would be much better, and this disaster would finally be over.

“The day after tomorrow, let’s go back. Close the shop first and let everyone rest for a few days.” Wei Qingshan said.

Lin Yu nodded. “Alright.”

Wei Qingshan accompanied Lin Yu to walk for a while in the fields outside town. The weather was a bit hot, so he did not dare let Lin Yu walk too much. After playing around there for a while, Wei Qingshan drove the mule cart to take Lin Yu back.

When Lin Yu returned, he told everyone about the plan to go home and harvest the crops. Naturally, Shunzi was happy. Even though his family didn’t have much land, the two mu of dry fields still needed to be harvested. The new grain had finally come in.

Shi Xiaoliu let out an “ah.” “Lin Ama, the shop will close first?”

“Yes, everyone worked hard. Everyone can rest for a few days.”

Shi Xiaoliu lifted his head. “Lin Ama, can I go back with you?”

Lin Yu laughed. “Why would you go back with me? Stay in town and play with your brother and sister.”

“I’ll go back with you to take care of you. When Uncle Wei goes to the fields, I’ll cook for you.”

“There’s still Yueniang, how could I possibly need you?”

Shi Xiaoliu refused to give in and insisted on going back with Lin Yu. Lin Yu had no choice but to say, “Then tomorrow, talk to your mom about it.”

Only then did Shi Xiaoliu become happy. “Mm! My mom will definitely agree!”

Early the next morning, Shi Xiaoliu told Madam Wu, who naturally agreed. Lin Yu was now pregnant, and having one more person to take care of him was a good thing.

When selling buns in the morning, Shi Xiaoliu shouted about closing the shop. Someone let out an “ah.” 

“Then come back soon, I feel miserable if I don’t eat your buns for a day.”

After everything was sold, they closed the shop. Everyone packed up and prepared to return to the countryside. There wasn’t much to bring. Since there wasn’t any food at home, they brought back some vegetables and grain.

There were still a few chickens in the courtyard, so Lin Yu asked Madam Wu to come and take care of them. There wasn’t much else to handle.

Wei Qingshan went to the Jin family’s shop and bought some sour jujube cakes and such for Lin Yu. With the weather getting hot, Lin Yu had no appetite. Sour jujube cakes, unlike dried apricots, could be eaten in larger amounts, so he bought more to take home.

Boss Jin smiled as he packed everything for Wei Qingshan. “Boss Wei, will you be gone for a few days?”

“Mm, we’re going back to harvest crops.”

“Your little shop boy shouted about it, and I heard. When I heard I wouldn’t be able to eat them for a few days, I quickly bought a few extra.”

Wei Qingshan exchanged a few words with Boss Jin and went back. Once everything was packed, they had to leave. There was still work to do at home once they got back.

Shi Xiaoliu deliberately wore his new clothes today. He prettily tied up his hair in front of a basin of water. In order to match the new clothes, Shi Xiaoliu even spent a few copper coins to buy a hair tie. Spending eight copper coins on a hair tie made his heart ache, but it matched his new clothes so well that he no longer felt distressed.

Shi Xiaoliu had been eating and drinking well for some time now. His face no longer looked malnourished, and he had put on some weight. Dressed in new clothes, he looked like a handsome little young man.

He spun around in a circle to show Zhao Yueniang. “Sister Yue, isn’t it nice?”

“Nice, nice.” Zhao Yueniang covered her mouth and laughed.

The two of them moved things onto the mule cart. There wasn’t much, most of it was food. Wei Qingshan even specially brought a hen back. Before, they had kept chickens for laying eggs, but now, whether they laid eggs or not didn’t matter — what mattered was nourishing his little husband.

Shunzi also borrowed a bamboo basket, inside which he placed half a bag of rice, two strips of meat, and two packets of dried fruit. When he heard yesterday that they were returning today, he specially asked Wei Qingshan to save two strips of meat for him. His family had not eaten meat in a long time. Now that it was time to harvest, the family should be happy.

At first, Lin Yu thought there wasn’t much to bring, but after packing everything up, it filled half the mule cart. The two little ones sat in the back, and Lin Yu sat in the front. Afraid of jostling him, Wei Qingshan even specially put a straw mat under him.

Wei Qingshan led the mule cart forward. Everyone was very happy along the way. Lin Yu looked at the fields of yellowing crops, and the smile on his lips never faded.

Shi Xiaoliu had a lively personality. His family had originally been from the countryside, too. After his parents died, he came to town to beg. Since Madam Wu took him in, he hadn’t been back to the countryside for several years. Along the way, he chattered endlessly to Zhao Yueniang.

Shunzi had a more wooden personality, but looking at the nearly ripe crops, his steps became much lighter. He only wanted to hurry back home to see his husband and his old mother.

When they arrived at the village, it was still mid-afternoon, just enough time to tidy up the courtyard. When they reached the village, Shunzi shouldered the basket and parted ways with them, quickly heading toward his home.

Wei Qingshan led the mule cart toward their house. Shi Xiaoliu looked around. “Sister Yue, where is your house?”

“It’s behind the village, we’re almost there.”

When they arrived home, Shi Xiaoliu jumped down first. He looked around. So Lin Ama’s house was a thatched cottage! Although it was a thatched cottage, it was very tidy, the courtyard had no weeds, and the vegetable garden was thriving.

What he didn’t know was that Wei Qingshan, who often returned to buy pigs, would tidy the courtyard every so often. Even though there had been a period when no one lived there, it was still very clean. When they came back, they hardly needed to tidy anything, they just needed to make the beds.

Shi Xiaoliu slept in Zhao Yueniang’s room. The two of them each had a bed against the wall, so it wasn’t cramped.

Wei Qingshan carried Lin Yu down from the cart. Lin Yu lightly pounded on Wei Qingshan. “Stop fooling around.”

He had originally just wanted Wei Qingshan to help him down, but as soon as he stretched out his hand, Wei Qingshan scooped him up. With two children watching, Lin Yu’s face turned a little red.

There was no need for Lin Yu to do any housework. Wei Qingshan found him a cool spot to sit.

The three of them tidied up the rooms. Lin Yu, having nothing to do, went to look at his vegetable garden. By this time, the bottle gourds and hanging gourds had already grown halfway. Lin Yu looked at the tender hanging gourds and felt a craving, so he told Yueniang to pick some in the evening to stir-fry for him.

Wei Qingshan carried a shoulder pole and went out to fetch water. He had already scrubbed the water jar clean. Since it was getting late, once he fetched the water, they could make dinner.

Zhao Yueniang and Shi Xiaoliu also finished tidying up. The two of them started the fire to cook. Lin Yu carefully went to the vegetable garden and picked two hanging gourds. They were so tender that they left a finger mark when pinched. He brought them to the kitchen, and Yueniang took them. “Brother, should I add chili?”

“Add some.”

“Alright.”

Lin Yu strolled around the courtyard. The neighbor, Sang Niang, and Qing-ger heard the noise and came over. “Yu-ger is back.”

Sang Niang brought over two pieces of tofu. “I just bought these this morning, just in time for your return.”

Lin Yu thanked her and took them. He rubbed Qing-ger’s head. “Qing-ger has grown quite a bit taller.”

Qing-ger’s temperament was a bit shy. He softly called out to Lin Yu, and Lin Yu went into the house to get him some malt sugar. He remembered that when he had just gotten married, Qing-ger was only a little taller than Lin Yu’s knee, thin and small, but now he was already almost up to his waist, and his little face had become fair and clean.

Sang Niang said a few words to Lin Yu and then went back. Even though there had been a disaster last year, the husked grains harvested from her household were more than enough for the two of them to eat.

In the evening, Zhao Yueniang made stir-fried meat, pan-fried tofu, and stir-fried tender luffah, and even picked pumpkin tips from the vegetable garden to make egg soup. Now that Lin Yu was pregnant, no one in the family dared to be careless with the food he ate.

Perhaps it was because coming back to the countryside meant the place was much more spacious, and it was also cooler here than in town, Lin Yu had a very good appetite at night. Eating with the tender luffah, he finished a bowl of rice, and he ate more than half of that dish of tender luffah. It was fresh and refreshing, and he liked it very much.

Seeing that he liked it, Zhao Yueniang was very happy. “Brother, I’ll pick more tomorrow and stir-fry it for you again.”

Lin Yu nodded with a soft “mm-mm.” “This luffah really grew well this year.”

After they finished eating, Wei Qingshan accompanied Lin Yu to stroll around the courtyard. When they went to sleep that night, it was a bit hot, and Lin Yu did not like to sleep pressed against Wei Qingshan. When Lin Yu did not come over, Wei Qingshan just moved over by himself.

Lin Yu pushed him. “Hot.”

“I’m not bothered by the heat.”

“I am.”

Wei Qingshan let out a soft chuckle. “I’ve found that your courage is getting bigger and bigger now, you even dare to push your husband.”

Lin Yu softly hummed in denial. “No.”

Wei Qingshan gently stroked Lin Yu’s little belly. It had been more than two months now, and Lin Yu’s little belly already had a slight curve. When he wore clothes, it was completely invisible, but when touched, they were no longer soft like before.

Wei Qingshan had a strong fire in him, and since Lin Yu became pregnant, he had also feared heat. Lin Yu obediently lay still and let Wei Qingshan touch him for a while. When he felt hot, he moved Wei Qingshan’s hand away. “Your hand is hot.”

“And you still say your courage hasn’t grown.” Wei Qingshan’s lips curved up. He turned over, reached under the pillow, took something out, and then pulled over his little husband’s hand and put it on for him.

Lin Yu only felt a cool sensation on his wrist as something was put on it. He shook his arm. “What is it?”

Borrowing the moonlight, Lin Yu could finally see clearly that what was clasped on his wrist was a silver bracelet, and something was dangling from it. Lin Yu’s eyes widened. “It’s a silver bracelet!”

“Mm, wear it for safety and peace.”

Lin Yu was no longer sleepy. Borrowing the moonlight, he shook his wrist to look at it. The silver bracelet was especially bright under the moonlight, and the little pendant dangling from it swayed back and forth. It seemed to be a little fish.

He did not even have the heart to wear his silver hairpin for fear of losing it, and now he had a silver bracelet on, which made him nervous. This silver bracelet fit him perfectly, so Wei Qingshan must have put in some effort to have it made for him.

Lin Yu squeezed closer to Wei Qingshan’s side, not minding the heat anymore. “It’s really pretty.”

His little husband snuggled up to him again, and only then was Wei Qingshan satisfied. “When our child is born, we’ll also have a longevity lock made.”

“Mm!” Lin Yu liked it very much. He kept shaking his bracelet to look at it. He asked softly, “Do you like boys or gers?”

“I like both. If it’s a little ger, then I hope he’s like you.”

Wei Qingshan thought that if it were a little ger who looked like Lin Yu, he would not even know how to love him enough.

He had never seen Lin Yu as a child, but he imagined that Lin Yu must have been very well-behaved when he was little, soft and adorable. Thinking of this made Wei Qingshan’s heart melt. He could not help but reach out to stroke Lin Yu’s belly again. “A little ger would be good, obedient.”